Abstract

This study examined the association between total handgrip strength (THGS) and morphological markers including body mass index (BMI), height, digit ratio (2D:4D), and relative fluctuating asymmetry (RFAD) in digits among 309 males aged 22–30 years from the Kocha-Rava community in India. Anthropometric measurements and digit lengths were collected following standard protocols, and THGS was assessed using a digital dynamometer. Partial correlations controlling for age showed significant positive associations between THGS and weight, height, and BMI, while 2D:4D ratios showed no significant relationship. Notably, RFAD in the 2nd digit showed a significant negative correlation with THGS (ρ = –0.389, p = 0.008). Regression analysis confirmed weight as the strongest predictor of THGS, and one-way ANOVA revealed significant differences in THGS across BMI categories prescribed by WHO and 2nd digit RFAD quartile groups. These findings suggest that while body size strongly predicts muscular strength, digit asymmetry may also reflect underlying developmental instability associated with reduced grip strength.

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